"John Carter" won't be released until March 9, but some are already predicting its downfall.

As the Daily Beast reported earlier this week, those in the industry are watching closely to see if "John Carter," based on the fantasy novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, will be able to recoup its $250 million budget. But while the press surrounding the film hasn't been the best, the production team is keeping a positive outlook.

"I think it's kind of nice to be the underdog," said producer Lindsey Collins. "I'm trying to embrace it, to a certain degree, but I think it's one of those things where this is the biggest movie coming out right now."

Admittedly, you might not know it's "the biggest movie coming out" judging from its marketing. But producer Jim Morris says they've been employing a particular strategy to raise awareness.

"First of all, our movie came in on time and on budget," he says. "We have two weeks to raise awareness, and the fact of the matter is, we strategically wanted to wait and kind of load it on at the end so people weren't fatigued by hearing about it, which sometimes happens with movies when you start promoting them so early and everybody just gets a little worn out by it."

And the long history trailing this project doesn't help, either.

"Obviously it has the huge weight of its history behind it, it's been kind of the curse of John Carter for a hundred years," Collins said. "Everybody's been trying to make it. I think that's part of it. People are watching and that's okay. I actually think we're going to deliver, so I'm not worried about it."

Neither is "John Carter's" director Andrew Stanton. "If people really had crystal balls like that, they'd really make a lot of money," Stanton joked. "All I've ever been able to control is what the movie is itself. I came to that conclusion with 'Toy Story' 20 years ago. I don't even pay attention to this outside stuff. Because if I did, I wouldn't have made half the movies I made!"

What do you think - should "John Carter's" production team be more concerned about the movie's box office potential, or do you think the dire predictions have been overblown?

Any one who thinks this is a rip off of the Terminator's John Carter has not been introduced to the works of Burroughs.
I have long awaited this series to be brought to the big screen, I'll be one of the first in line.

Although the marketing for the movie has been terrible, including the trailers, what I read from credible sources seems to suggest that the pre screenings have been very well received. I have read nothing on the internet from anyone who has actually seen the movie in a pre screening or a premier that is negative (critics and joe shmoes alike). All negativity is from people who have yet actually to see the movie.

They actually did make a movie about Pellucidar a long time ago. No special effects in those days. Even the Venus series would make a good movie. I too read these books as a boy and now again many years later. Loved them then and loved them now. Can't wait for the film.

this movie will be a great success maybe inspite of any poor marketing that may or may not have happened
Taylor is a great actor and looks amazing, andrew stanton has proved his talent, see the film then judge

I read all 11 of ERB's Martian Tales novels as a kid and have been waiting more than 30 years to finally see a theatrical release based on those characters. @nbafan: most people don't realize this material was first written in 1912, and was the inspiration for everything from Superman to Star Wars, Avatar and countless others. Without John Carter, there would be no John Conner – whose name is, if anything, an homage to the hundred-year-old Burrough's character – not the other way around as you suggest.

@ Prospero,
diddo, one the first series I ever read as a child and its still one of my favorites. I will be standing right there in line with you.
@ nbafan
this series was writen in like 1910, so i think they have dibs on that name...

What? What? "John Carter is a rip off of Terminator"??? I am blown away by this statement. UNFORTUNATELY, This is apparently not an umcommon misconception. Some even believe the film "john carter" is a prelude to the Terminator. This drive me CRAZY...

PLEASE READ: "John Carter of Mars" was written generations before "the Terminator" was even dreamed of. John Carter( of the barsoon series) was written before WW1-when my Great-Grandfather was still a child. There is ABSOLUTELY no relation between the two movies. John Connor (not Carter) is the name of the kid in the Terminator series, which I am also a fan of.

Edgar Rice Burroughs(1875-1950) wrote the books and also wrote the more famous Tarzan and "the Land that Time Forgot"